The Great War: The War to End All Wars

The Causes of World War I

Causes of World War ICauses of World War I World War 1 was also known as:

–The War to End All WarsThe War to End All Wars

–The First Modern WarThe First Modern War

–The Imperialist WarThe Imperialist War

–The Trench WarThe Trench War

–The Great WarThe Great War

Europe before the warEurope during the war

The Western Front

The Eastern Front

WW1 is a two-front war because Germany has to fight the Allies on both sides

The Allied Powers

The Central Powers

Europe before the warEurope after the warNew countries!

New countries!New countries!

New countries!

New countries!

New countries!

Divided empires!

Divided empires!

Russia turns Communist (USSR)

What Caused World War 1?

MMilitarism

AAlliances

IImperialism & Rivalries

NNationalism

Imperialism & Rivalries The Industrial Revolution led to

hostile competition as imperialists fought over the same colonies

In 1898, England & France argued over rights to the Sudan in Africa

(the Fashoda Incident)

In 1899, Germany, England, & Russia argued over rights to build a railroad in IndiaIn 1905, 1908, & 1911, Germany &

France almost went to war over Morocco

Militarism Europeans believed their national

power was determined by their military strength (militarism):–The Industrial Revolution led to

large, advanced armies & navies with new industrial weapons

–Because European countries tried to keep up with each other, an arms racearms race began; This made it difficult to settle minor problems by talking things out

The European Arms Race: England & Germany competed to create the

largest navies in Europe

The European Arms Race: England & Germany competed to create the

largest navies in Europe

Nationalism Nationalism created feelings of

great pride & united the citizens of a country & led some countries to want revenge for previous wars

German “Hymn of Hate” songGerman “Hymn of Hate” song:Hate by water & hate by land;Hate by water & hate by land;Hate of the heart & hate of the hand;Hate of the heart & hate of the hand;We love as one; We hate as one;We love as one; We hate as one;We have but one foe alone: EnglandWe have but one foe alone: England

France wanted revenge against Germany for its loss during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871

Nationalism also divided people; The most tense place in Europe by 1914

was the Balkans as Serbia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, & Romania all broke from the Ottoman Empire to make new nations

The Slavic peoples wanted to unite & form a Slavic nation (Yugoslavia) but Austria-

Hungary did not want this to happen

The Balkans became a

“powder keg” waiting for a

spark to blow up

Pan-Slavism in the

Balkans, 1914

Alliances No nation wanted to fight in a war by

itself so nations formed alliances:

Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy made up the Triple Alliance

England, France, & Russia made up the

Triple Entente

These alliances did not make Europe more secure, they made it more tense

Causes of WWI By 1914, Europe was in

a bad position:–Powerful European nations

had large armies & navies –MilitarismMilitarism supported the idea that

war can be good & can bring glory to nation & its people (NationalismNationalism)

–Nations were tied together by alliances, so if one country went to war, the others had to go too

The War Begins On June 28, 1914, the Austro-

Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated

The Assassin: The Assassin:

GavriloPrincipGavriloPrincip

The War Begins On July 23, Austria-Hungary

issued an ultimatumultimatum to Serbia: –Either allow Austria-Hungarian

officials to investigate the assassination …OROR…

–Go to war On July 28,1914 Serbia declined

the ultimatum & Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

Hurray! War is great! Let’s go beat

those Germans!

How was WW1 a “world” war?

How was WW1 a “world” war?